Chapter 9 Social Cognition Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Chapter 9 Social Cognition Deck (43)
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1
Q

Social cognition

A

How we interpret, analyse, remember and use information to make judgements about others in different social situations

2
Q

Person perception

A

The mental processes we use to form impressions and draw conclusions about the personal characteristics of other people.

3
Q

What is the role of person perception?

A

~Make judgements about others
~Influence our choices of friends
~Influence who we should have relationships with and who we should avoid

4
Q

The halo effect

A

A cognitive bias in which the impression we form about one quality of a person influences our beliefs and expectations about the person in other qualities.

5
Q

What are three types of non-verbal communication?

A
  • Body language
  • Eye contact
  • Facial expressions
6
Q

What is body language useful for?

A

Enabling us to make quick and more accurate judgements about someone.

7
Q

Attribution

A

The process by which people explain the causes of their own and other people’s behaviour

8
Q

Personal/dispositional attribution

A

Explanation due to the characteristics of the person involved.
(Blame the person)

9
Q

Situational attribution

A

An explanation due to factors external to the person involved such as the environment, task, luck and fate

10
Q

The fundamental attribution error

A

The tendency to overestimate the influence of personal factors and underestimate the impact of situational factors on other people’s behaviour

11
Q

Saliency bias

A

Where we attribute behaviour to personal characteristics because the person’s behaviour tends to be more noticeable than the situation in which it is occurring

12
Q

Just world belief

A

The belief that the world is a fair place in which people generally get what they deserve and vice versa.

We blame people for their misfortunes

13
Q

Actor-observer bias/discrepancy

A

Our tendency to attribute our own behaviour to external or situational causes, yet attribute others’ to internal factors.

14
Q

Self-serving bias

A

When we take the credit for our successes but attribute our failures to the situation.

To protect self esteem or maintain a good image

15
Q

Individualist culture

A

Where being an individual and independent is valued and encouraged

16
Q

Collectivist culture

A

Achieving group goals is encouraged and prioritised over individual goals.

17
Q

Which culture is less likely to make the fundamental attribution error and the self-serving bias?

A

Collectivist cultures

18
Q

Attitude

A

An evaluation a person makes about an object, person, group, event or issue

19
Q

Tri-component model of attitudes

A

Proposes that any attitude has three related components- affective, behavioural and cognitive components

20
Q

Affective component

A

The emotional reactions or feelings an individual has towards an object, person, group, event or issue

21
Q

Behavioural component

A

The way in which an attitude is expressed through our actions.

22
Q

Cognitive component

A

The beliefs we have about an object, person, group, event or issue

23
Q

What are the limitations of the tri-component model?

A

~A behaviour may not always reflect the person’s beliefs or attitudes

24
Q

What factors influence the consistency of attitudes and behaviour?

A
  1. Strength of the attitude
  2. Accessibility of the attitude
  3. Social context
  4. Perceived control
25
Q

What factors influence the formation of attitudes?

A
  1. Classical conditioning
  2. Operant conditioning
  3. Social learning
  4. Repeated exposure
26
Q

Classical conditioning

A

A form of learning which occurs through repeated association of two different stimuli or events

27
Q

Operant conditioning

A

Learning through repeating behaviour with a positive consequence and avoiding behaviour that has a negative consequence

28
Q

Modelling

A

Modifying or adopting attitudes by observing other people

29
Q

Repeated exposure

A

Being exposed to an object, person, group, event or issue repeatedly

30
Q

Mere exposure effect

A

The increase in liking for an attitude etc as a result of being repeatedly exposed to it

31
Q

What is the primacy effect?

A

Where the initial impression of a person is more influential than any later information obtained

32
Q

Stereotype

A

A collection of beliefs that we have about the people who belong to a certain group regardless of their individual differences

33
Q

Why are stereotypes useful?

A

Because they assist us in knowing how we should react to new people we meet

34
Q

What are some issues with stereotypes?

A

~Based in inadequate info
~Lead to social stigma
~Lead to negative feelings for those who are stigmatised.
~Can lead to prejudice

35
Q

Ingroup

A

The the group that you belong to or identify with

36
Q

Outgroup

A

Any group you do not identify with

37
Q

Prejudice

A

Holding a negative attitude towards the members of a group, based solely on their membership of that group.

38
Q

Herbert Blumer’s 4 characteristics of prejudice

A
  1. Majority group is superior
  2. Minority don’t belong
  3. Majority is more powerful
  4. Majority is insecure
39
Q

Old fashioned prejudice

A

Where members of the majority openly reject minority groups

40
Q

Modern prejudice

A

More subtle and hidden forms of prejudice

41
Q

Discrimination

A

Positive or negative behaviour that is directed towards a social group and its members

42
Q

Direct discrimination

A

When someone is treated unfavourably because of a personal characteristic

43
Q

Indirect discrimination

A

Where treating everyone equally can disadvantage someone because of a personal characteristic